Take a look at our December newsletter!
The Medlin News
DECEMBER 2022
When I was a kid, we always went to Red River, my favorite place to go skiing. I always went to New Mexico to ski from my teen years up through college. While the slopes there hold a special place in my heart because of all the memories I’ve created there, I want my family and me to visit different locations across the country. There are many ski resorts in the U.S., and I want to go to as many as possible. So, as we continue my family’s tradition of skiing, I’m adding a new element to it by trying out different slopes. It doesn’t matter where my family and I are as long as we’re together — and we get to see some snow, of course. A white Christmas means so much to me because we rarely experience snow or cold weather in Texas unless we get an unexpected snowstorm, like in 2021. When most people think of Christmas, they think about the smell of fresh pine trees, colorful and twinkling lights, hot chocolate, cold weather, and a beautiful winter wonderland — it looks like the scenery for the perfect Christmas postcard. There’s something magical about being surrounded by trees, snow, mountains, and Christmas decorations. The beautiful scenery makes me get into the holiday spirit — it feels like Christmas when I’m bundled up in clothes and waiting to hit the slopes. I remember excitedly anticipating when I would get to take Nadia skiing and continue the family tradition. It was weird not skiing every Christmas, but the wait was worth it. I’m happy my daughter loves skiing and enjoys it as much as I do. I look forward to continuing the Christmas traditions for years to come. No matter your traditions, I hope you enjoy your time with your family. We’ve been through a lot these past few years, so now is the perfect time to get back to what matters most — our family. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! I will see you all in 2023. – Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
MY FAMILY TRADITIONS ARE STILL GOING STRONG
I’ve always looked forward to Christmas because of my family’s traditions. Family traditions are important because they allow you to make memories with your loved ones to cherish forever. I’ve talked about it before, but when I was a teenager, my family and I would take annual trips to Red River, New Mexico, to go skiing. I remember all of our family ski trips and the experiences we had together. Last year, I continued my family’s tradition by taking my daughter, Nadia, on her first ski trip. I’ve been looking forward to continuing an annual holiday trip that meant so much to me, and I finally got to give my daughter a white Christmas. Nadia wasn’t nervous when she went down her first slope. She was confident and caught on quickly — she’s a natural! It warms my heart that I get to create these memories with her, and I hope it impacts her the way family ski trips impacted me at her age. My family and I plan on taking another ski trip this month, and I look forward to hitting the slopes with Nadia again.
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With These Holiday Hosting Tips The holidays are rapidly approaching, and soon, we’ll share laughs while enjoying the festivities with our loved ones. Before the celebrations begin, you must prepare your home for visitors, especially if they stay overnight. It can be stressful whether it’s your in-laws, best friends, or distant cousins coming to stay with you. You want to leave a good impression, but how do you ensure everyone’s needs are met, including yours? Here are three tips for setting yourself up for a successful holiday, regardless of who stays with you. Stock up on your guests’ favorites. Have you ever stayed with someone who didn’t have extra food for their guests? Don’t put your guests in this situation. Load up your pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards with your guests’ favorite foods and drinks. If you don’t know what they are, ask ahead of their visit! Your guests will appreciate your conscientious gesture and have a much more enjoyable time if they can eat their favorites while visiting. Prepare a guest room. If your guests are staying with you, you need to prepare somewhere for them to sleep. Make sure you make up the bed, have plenty of pillows and blankets on hand, and provide adequate closet space for their clothes. Even if they aren’t staying in a traditional bedroom, their sleeping area should still be ready when they arrive. Clear off a table for them to use as a nightstand and put sheets on the couch or mattress where they’ll sleep. IMPRESS THE GUESTS
Use real dishes. When we have company over for a meal, especially a large gathering, it’s usually easier to use plastic or paper options — saves on cleanup, too! The holidays are not necessarily the time for this shortcut. Break out the fine china if you have it, or use regular dishes for your guests. It’s okay for the kids to have paper plates, but if you want to make a good impression on visiting adults, nicer dishes will dress up the table setting and meal.
More Cars on the Road Means More Road Rage
The holiday season is in full swing, and many travel to visit family and friends. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more accidents during the holiday season than during non-holiday periods. More cars on the road lead to increased traffic, distracted driving, drunk driving, and road rage. While Texas has no laws regarding road rage, the courts have guidelines for prosecuting road rage incidents. Is road rage a crime? Since road rage is a behavior, it’s not considered a crime. However, several crimes and traffic violations arise because of this behavior. Some road rage offenses include reckless or aggressive driving, assault and battery, DWI, use of a firearm, and deadly conduct. What’s the difference between reckless and aggressive driving? While yelling at other drivers and using hand gestures are typical road rage behaviors, it’s not considered reckless
driving or an offense. According to the Texas Transportation Code 545, reckless driving is when a driver disregards the safety of others and property while driving. An example could be unlawfully passing another vehicle, speeding, and negligence that results in injuries. Reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor but can be a felony, depending on the circumstances.
Aggressive driving is reckless driving but with demonstrative intent, which means you’re intentionally driving in a manner that puts you and others in danger. Some examples include deliberately cutting off another driver, purposefully slowing down, preventing others from switching lanes or passing, running a vehicle off the road, or throwing objects at other drivers. Because road rage is an umbrella term that describes criminal and traffic offenses with various penalties, there isn’t a law that directly defines how to prosecute road rage. It all depends on the incident and the reckless or aggressive driving offense you’re charged with. If you or someone you know is accused of endangering other drivers during a road rage incident, call Medlin Law Firm to assist you. Some road rage penalties carry heavy consequences, so you need an experienced attorney who will go to trial for you and fight for your rights.
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Don’t Forget the Milk and Cookies! WHY DO WE LEAVE SNACKS FOR SANTA?
Many families with children participate in a popular Christmas tradition: leaving a tasty treat out for Santa. But how did this tradition come to be? Several theories have been created that try to answer why we leave milk and cookies out for St. Nick. The origins date back to ancient Norse mythology. During the Viking Age (790–1100 B.C.), many Scandinavian civilizations worshiped several Norse gods and deities. The god of war, Odin, is said to ride an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir. During the Yule season (Christmas), children would leave food out for Sleipnir, hoping Odin would stop by and leave gifts. This tradition is still practiced today in Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Kids will place carrots and hay outside their homes for Sleipnir in exchange for gifts and sweet treats. It derived from the Great Depression. The tradition of leaving a snack out for Santa gained popularity in the 1930s. Because of families’ economic hardships during this time, many parents wanted to share the importance of gratitude. They wanted to teach their children how to be thankful for what they received for Christmas. So, to honor and thank Santa for traveling worldwide and
delivering presents, many kids began showing their thanks by leaving milk and cookies for him.
Several countries developed their own traditions.
Many countries worldwide have similar traditions that predate America. For example, British and Australian kids leave sherry and mince pies for Santa. Swedish children leave rice porridge, Germans write handwritten letters for Christkind, and French families fill a glass of wine for St. Nick and leave carrots for his donkey, Gui.
Despite not knowing where this tradition truly came from, it’s interesting to see how other cultures and families celebrate the holidays. Do you have any special Christmas traditions? We would love to hear your thoughts.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs
Ingredients
• 1 cup powdered sugar • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter • 3 tbsp softened butter • 1 lb white chocolate candy coating
Directions
1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper. 2. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and softened butter. Mix until evenly combined. 3. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the lined cookie sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm. 4. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate candy coating in increments of 30 seconds, stirring occasionally until smooth. 5. In the same bowl, use skewers to dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate before placing them on a lined cookie sheet so they can harden. 6. Chill until ready and then serve!
For resources, practice areas, and more, scan the QR code to visit our website, MedlinFirm.com.
Inspired by MomFoodie.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Hitting the Slopes With Family This Winter
2. How to Impress Visitors This Holiday Season
Is Road Rage a Crime?
3. Why Do We Leave Milk and Cookies for Santa?
No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs
4. Banish Trash With Plogging
Head out in groups. Everything is more fun with others! Round up a group of friends, family, or coworkers and join the initiative together. If you’re up for it, you can even make it a contest! Add in different exercises. Plogging doesn’t only have to incorporate jogging — while gathering trash; you can do squats, burpees, lunges, or even pushups. Switch up arms. While plogging, holding the garbage bag in the same hand can become uncomfortable, especially as that bag gets heavier! Be sure to change which arm holds it from time to time! Incorporate sprints. If jogging becomes too simple for you, try sprinting between trash to intensify the activity. Plogging is a great way to reduce pollution while getting in your workout! Local parks, neighborhoods, and common areas are a great place to start!
According to Our World in Data, the world manufactures more than 270 million tons of plastic annually. About 8 million tons of this plastic winds up in the ocean — that’s 3%! Plogging, a fad that originated in Sweden to help minimize pollution, is taking the world by storm. Essentially, you jog and pick up litter at the same time! Some cardio and a giant clean-up effort? It’s a great way to enjoy the cool winter temperatures while doing something good for the environment! Plogging can be done with others, at any time, and pretty much anywhere litter or trash exists. It’s a win-win! The origin of the word “plogging,” according to the Farmer’s Almanac, comes from a combination of jogging and the Swedish word for “pick up,” which is “plocka upp.” All you need is a pair of running shoes, a trash bag, stamina, some free time, and water to stay hydrated! If you’re interested in taking up the hobby or plogging every now and then to make a difference in our environment, here are some tips to keep the activity fun and interesting!
Have You Heard of Plogging? BOOST YOUR HEALTH WHILE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT
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